Harry Potter and the Mind Mage

By James Milamber

A/N: I have no idea how it happened, but somehow I've managed to write a story that has almost nothing to do with what I had planned. Stupid muses.

For the purposes of this story, I'm making Ginny's specialty Transfiguration. You'll see why that's important in a minute.

As evening approached, Ginny seemed to grow increasingly nervous. They had spent the day in Harry's bedroom, avoiding the Dursleys. More and more often, Harry would catch Ginny glancing out the window, as if waiting for something to arrive.

Finally, as they were sharing a meal from yet another Weasley hamper, an owl swooped through the window bearing a small black box, which it deposited in Ginny's lap. She sighed in relief, taking the attached letter and reading through it quickly before nodding to herself.

'What is it?' Harry asked, looking up from his Charms homework.

'Your birthday present, of course,' Ginny said with a nervous smile. She held out the black box, and Harry took it curiously. He opened it to find a silver medallion on a chain. The sword of Godric Gryffindor was depicted point down through the centre, and surrounding the hilt was a ruby encrusted crown. Encircling the outside was a snake biting it's own tail, the eternal symbol of renewal and rebirth.

'Professor McGonagall showed me how to transfigure it last term,' Ginny said, her voice betraying her nervousness. 'I had to get Professor Dumbledore to enchant it, though. I wasn't strong enough. It should protect you.'

'It's beautiful, Gin,' Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulder in a half hug, his eyes still on the medallion glittering in his hand. Consequently, he missed the look of relief mixed with pure pleasure that crossed Ginny's face.

'I realised at the end of last year that I never thanked you for saving me in the Chamber,' Ginny said quietly, taking a deep breath to steady herself as she started to shake. Harry noticed and squeezed her shoulder.

'There's nothing to thank me for,' he said lightly, smiling ruefully. 'Ron would have killed me if I'd let anything happen to you.'

His eyes went back to the amulet, and in doing so he missed the look of anguish that crossed her face.

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Late that night, Harry lay awake in the cool darkness of his room, staring at the ceiling as his thought lingered on Sirius. He had been told countless times that what happened in the Department of Mysteries was not his fault, but that didn't stop him feeling a twinge of guilt as he thought about the consequences of their little adventure. True, they had proved beyond a doubt that Voldemort was back, but Ron and Hermione had ended up in the hospital wing for weeks afterward, and Sirius…

He was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of muffled sobs. It took a moment for him to remember that Ginny was in the same room, and she was undoubtedly the source of the quiet sounds. He listened for a moment and was about to ask her what was wrong when there was a loud crash from downstairs.

Harry quickly rolled out of bed, grabbing his wand from the desk. Ginny sat up slowly, her own wand clutched tightly in her shaking hands. Harry was glad that the moonlight was too dim for either to see much; it spared them both from a potentially embarrassing moment.

Harry placed a finger to his lips, and Ginny nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She climbed out of bed and crossed the room on silent feet to Harry's desk, crouching behind it out of sight. Harry slipped into the small space between the door and wardrobe, and they waited.

It was only a minute or so later when the door handle slowly turned, and a shadowy figure in sweeping black robes slipped through the door. Harry was on him in an instant.

'Stupefy!'

The figure crumpled as two Stunners took him, one from the back and one from the front. Ginny had leapt from cover, and now stood panting in the middle of the room, her wand rock steady as she kept it on the downed Death Eater.

'Expelliarmus!'

Ginny's wand flew from her hands, and before he could do anything, Harry's followed.

A second Death Eater, who had obviously been hiding in the hall, stepped over the body of their fallen comrade. Harry felt a chill pass over him as they removed their mask.

'So,' Bellatrix Lestrange breathed, her lips twisted into a cruel smirk. 'We meet again, Potter.'

Harry's mind went blank; flames appeared before his eyes. This was the woman who had killed Sirius…killed him and then laughed about it…

With an enraged roar, Harry leapt at Bellatrix, but with surprising strength, she sent him flying into the corner where he slumped in a daze.

'Don't move,' Bellatrix said to Ginny as she gave a little cry and took a step towards Harry. The Death Eater's wand was pointed at the youngest Weasley, but she was looking at Harry.

'Poor little baby Potter,' Bellatrix taunted. 'Didn't even realise as the Dark Lord slowly peeled away the protections of this dump.' Her sneering gaze took in the room, then came back to rest on Harry. 'And now, he's going to die. What a shame.'

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes as she moved her wand to point at Harry. 'Pity you couldn't choose your sides more carefully, Potter,' she said. 'But now, I shall be rewarded most richly by the Dark Lord for being the one to finally end your miserable life.'

Harry's eyes caught Ginny's as Bellatrix's attention remained on him. She was inching to the left, her foot outstretched, and Harry realised that she was going for the fallen Death Eater's wand.

'Goodbye, Potter.' Bellatrix smiled triumphantly. 'AVADA KEDAVRA!'

A jet of green light erupted from Bellatrix's wand. Harry stared at it numbly, unable to move as death approached him.

With a shrill scream filled with defiance, Hedwig swooped from her place on Harry's wardrobe, taking the spell in the chest. She tumbled from the air, lifeless, landing in Harry's lap. At the same instant, there was a yell of, 'Stupefy!' and Bellatrix joined her comrade on the floor.

Harry stared numbly at the limp bundle of white feathers in his lap. He gently stroked Hedwig's soft chest, as his eyes filled with tears. She had taken the spell meant for him. Loyal to the end.

'Harry?' Ginny knelt beside him, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. Harry sobbed, a hopeless sound that wrenched at Ginny's soul. She dropped the Death Eater's wand with a clatter and pulled him into a hug, Hedwig held between them. And for the first time since the start of summer, Harry allowed all the feelings he had bottled up loose. Ginny held him tightly as he cried, running her fingers through his messy hair and trying to stop her own tears from falling. Her back began to hurt from the awkward angle, but she fiercely ignored it.

There was a loud bang from downstairs, and soon after Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks burst into the room.

'Harry!' Lupin said in relief, almost tripping over the prone Death Eaters in his haste to get to Harry. Ginny flipped her hand at him, warning him away, as Harry continued to sob into her shoulder.

Moody conjured ropes to bind the two prisoners, and levitated them outside. Tonks Disapparated to let the Order know that they were okay. Only Lupin remained, although he kept his distance from the two teens as Harry, now silent, continued to cling to his beloved pet and Ginny clung to him just as tightly. Finally Harry shifted, his lips inches from Ginny's, and he whispered, 'Thank you.'

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Dumbledore arrived at Privet Drive a few minutes later, along with James, Professor McGonagall, and Snape. Incredibly, the Dursleys had slept through the whole incident.

Harry felt a hot surge of loathing course through him at the sight of Snape as the four entered Harry's bedroom. He was now sitting on his bed holding Hedwig, with Ginny close by and Lupin across from him on Ginny's bed. Harry's gaze became flat at the Potion Master's presence.

'Get out,' he said sharply.

Snape looked surprised, then he scowled. 'Potter –'

Dumbledore motioned for him to go. Snape turned sharply and stalked out of the room, his robes billowing out behind him as he went. Dumbledore sighed and sat beside Lupin on Ginny's bed. McGonagall and James shared a look, then took up stations on either side of the door.

'Harry,' Dumbledore started quietly. 'Please do not blame Professor Snape for what happened last year. I know this is hard –'

'I don't want to talk about it,' Harry said shortly. Ginny placed a hand on his shoulder, and he angrily shoved it off. Undeterred, she replaced it.

'I had thought that this was the safest place for you both,' Dumbledore said, his voice tired. 'Obviously I was wrong. Please, Harry, don't make this any more difficult than it already is.' He passed one hand over his eyes. 'I have decided to move you and certain other high risk students back to Hogwarts somewhat earlier than I had originally planed.' Harry shrugged indifferently, stroking his owl's soft feathers.

'It would appear I have underestimated Voldemort yet again,' Dumbledore sighed. Harry's head slowly raised, an incredulous look on his face. 'Taking some of your blood to use in the spell that resurrected him was really quite clever. Not only did it allow him to overcome the protection your mother gave you when she died, but it allowed him to manipulate the wards set up around this house in such a way that I never noticed until it was too late.'

Harry nodded slowly, deep in thought. 'Because he has some of me in him, and the wards are here to protect me.'

Dumbledore nodded approvingly. 'Very good Harry, it took some of the Order members some time to realise that.' He glanced slyly at Tonks, who had come through the door unnoticed. Tonks coughed nervously, blushing.

'All set, Professor,' she said, handing Dumbledore an old ratty book.

'Excellent,' Dumbledore handed the book to Harry. 'It's a Portkey,' he explained, seeing Harry's confused look. 'It will take you and Miss Weasley straight to Gryffindor Tower.'

'And me,' James said, coming forwards.

'Ah yes, and you of course James,' Dumbledore motioned the younger man forwards, and he placed a hand on the book. Ginny's slim hand came to rest on top of Harry's, and she smiled at him encouragingly. 'We shall bring your things up separately, but right now it is important to get you both to safety. I believe Miss Granger and Mister Weasley should already be there,' he added, and Harry brightened a little.

'Alright,' he said finally, handing Hedwig to Lupin, who took her tenderly. Dumbledore smiled.

'Excellent,' he said with some relief, glancing at his pocket watch. 'Here we go, three, two, one…'

Harry felt the familiar jerk behind his navel, and he was catapulted through the ethers to land unceremoniously in a heap on the floor in Gryffindor Tower, Ginny landing on top of him. Only James managed to stay upright. He shook his head in amusement as Ginny sprang to her feet and helped Harry up.

'Harry! Ginny!' Ron and Hermione stood from where they had been sitting before the fire and hurried over. 'So good to see you,' Hermione said breathlessly, kissing Harry on the cheek as Ron hugged his sister. Then they swapped, Ginny hugging Hermione and Ron slapping Harry on the back. As the friends greeted each other, James made himself scarce.

'What happened?' Ron asked as they all took seats before the fire. 'Kingsley Shacklebolt showed up at Hermione's and said that we had to get back to Hogwarts right away. Something about an attack. You right mate?'

Harry nodded absently, not really wanting to talk. It was Ginny who answered the question.

'It was Death Eaters,' she said quietly, and Ron and Hermione paled. 'One of them was Bellatrix Lestrange,' she added. Seeing their blank looks, she said in exasperation, 'You know, the one that killed Sirius!'

This was news to both of them; when Sirius had died, only Harry and Neville had been present. Ron had been entangled in the brain's tentacles, and Hermione had been unconscious.

'Harry?' Hermione asked uncertainly, but Harry didn't answer, just stared into the fire. The three looked at each other, wordlessly coming to an agreement. Ron and Hermione disappeared up the stairs to the boys dormitories, returning a few minutes later with four blankets. Ginny was curled up next to Harry, using his chest as a pillow. The Boy-Who-Lived was fast asleep, and an empty potion bottle on the table nearby explained why. Ron looked about to comment on the sleeping arrangements but Ginny snatched a blanket from him and shot him a look filled with such venom that he quailed, sliding onto the other couch. Hermione gave Ginny a small smile before mimicking her position with Ron. Ron looked rather surprised, but quickly settled down, running one hand through Hermione's bushy hair, a smile on his face as he settled down to sleep.

Ginny glanced over at Hermione and winked, before her eyes closed and she promptly went to sleep, her earlier tears completely forgotten.

A/N: God, this chapter almost had me in tears. I can't believe I just killed Hedwig.

Oh and don't worry, Bellatrix will be back.

Okay then, the Brownie Points (where the hell did I get that expression?) go to TankerMDK, who was the only one to figure out why Ginny was sent to Privet Drive. Bonus points to Poohdog for originality (Snape set Ron and Hermione an essay? That hadn't even occurred to me! Interesting idea though…lol)